The National League Championship Series moves to Philadelphia after the Phillies and Dodgers split the first two games. The first game featured home runs from Carlos Ruiz and Raul Ibanez. Despite a stellar performance by Pedro Martinez, the Phillies blew a 1-0 lead thanks to a throwing error by Chase Utley. After an off day, the series returns with Hiroki Kuroda and Cliff Lee on the mound.

From one extreme to another, weather will be a factor. The weather was beautiful in Los Angeles; 93 degrees and sunny. It’ll be the complete opposite in Philly: cold and rainy. The frigid temperatures didn’t seem to bother Lee in game four of the division series. “I think that affects the hitter more than the pitcher,” Lee said.

Lee has been streaky since joining the Phillies. He went a perfect 5-0 with an ERA under one in his first five starts, but scuffled towards the end of the year posting an ERA over six. Right now, he’s in a hot streak. In 16.1 innings during the NLDS, Lee allowed only two earned runs. Lee’s only start against the Dodgers came in his Cy Young year. He pitched seven shutout innings before exiting after allowing a one-run single.

Lee has benefited from the hometown crowd, posting a 2.52 ERA at Citizens Bank Park. However, Lee will have to watch out for Manny Ramirez. Ramirez is 6-for-14 (.429) with two home runs against the lefty.

Kuroda will make his second postseason start against the Phillies, with the last coming in 2008’s NLCS. Kuroda will forever be known as the pitcher who threw at Shane Victorino’s head, but also leading the Dodgers to their lone NLCS victory that year. He pitched six innings allowing two runs in 08’s NLCS, but that is only a small portion of his success against the Phillies. In three starts, Kuroda is 1-0 with a 0.95 ERA, 0.58 WHIP and .100 BAA against the Phillies in his career. He has struck out 17 Phillies in 19 innings.

Kuroda tossed six shutout innings against the Phillies earlier this year, but there is uncertainty surrounding this start. Kuroda will be pitching for the first time in over three weeks due to a herniated disk in his neck. Kuroda also suffered an oblique injury and was hit in the head with a line drive this season.

While Manny is always a threat for the Dodgers, Ruiz has been the biggest threat this postseason. Ruiz is 7-for-18 (.389) with a home run, six RBI, and a stolen base during the 2009 playoffs.

“I’ve got all the faith in the world in our team. It’s going to be a good series, guys. This series by no means is over. It’s going to be a tough series,” Charlie Manuel said.

Your Gameday Beer – Franziskaner
Why Franziskaner? Because I’m drinking one right now. And my mom likes it, and she hates beer, so it’s that good. Brewed in Munich, it’s not too heavy and not too light, and gives off a nice wheat flavor. Enjoy with a pork tenderloin and celebrate a Phillies victory. – By Pat

the announcer was all over that home run call…it’s a matter of letting the crowd control your emotions….. it’s unprofessional but these guys are doing it…..the fans get too caught up with the announcers

tracey you didn’t understand my post….these announcers reactions have been dictated by the crowds hence the crying about the announcers being unfair to our team
cosell era? when the announcers used to pass out drunk in the booth? lol

I appreciate the RBI, Big Brown but a little more patience there with the bases loaded and a guy who has no control probably would have been the best course of action. After all, if that was Feliz we would be flipping out.

geez tracey turn off your radio these announcers are heaping big time praise on the phillies now…i’m not being sarcastic they really are showing love….actually i love the phillies announcers so i wouldn’t say turn them off just letting you know

i want to say if the phils are cruising late, and i mean it would have to be even bigger than this 6 run lead….anyways if that’s the case i don’t want to see lee throwing well over 100 pitches…he’s thrown a lot this year and pitching complete game gems in the playoffs is not the goal when you are blowing a team out, it’s saving this guy for other games that are big down the line….i’m thinking way ahead but i’m just saying…and i really do mean if they have a huge lead…by the way we are a field goal away from tying the eagles today…lol

Good thing Billz looks good tonight. Maybe you shoulda started him instead of a guy with a herniated disc in his neck Joe…dammit. Final score prediction: Phillies 9, Dodgers 2. 9 Smithwicks in my belly. We’ll get you guys tomorrow though!

I have been told by a bartender friend that when someone orders a “Smithwicks” they do not serve them due to the wrong pronunciation….Usually another customer has to “clue them in” on the pronunciation before this beer is served!
It is pronounced “Smiddicks”, at least in the bars in the Midwest.

Yeah, the “w” doesn’t get pronounced.
It’s pretty good; very good for the price. Mix it half and half with Guiness for a change.

I think we really need to score some more runs on this guy. Not because Im seriously afraid of this game (still dont slouch on this lineup) but more because I would like to see the Dodgers use a few more guys from the bullpen.

I am not gonna lie, the bartenders at McFaddens get on my nerves, they act like because they get all kinds of hype, that they are better than they really are. Specifically McFaddens at CBP. The one on 3rd street isn’t that bad. If I have to go to McFadden’s it will be the one on 3rd street.

Sam, for once I am saying thankfully it wasnt on national TV. It was pretty pathetic. So far it looks like the Phillies are NOT following in their footsteps. I disagree with Morris Buttermaker though, I think Smithwicks is definately worth the money.

It’s funny that for years people dissed on Charlie for being a bad manager, while at the same time praising Reid for his “success over the last ten years”. Yet Charlie has managed to do more than Reid has, in way less time. Plus, Charlie actually looks like he knows what he’s doing (occasional pitching switches or non-switches that seem confusing notwithstanding).

My feeling with beer right now is that if you live in or around Philly, you do not need to drink any beer that was not brewed within 60 miles of Philly. You can get some amazing beers at a good price around here. Also, whenever you buy PA beers, 60% of the money being exchanged goes to taxes. So you are not just buying beer, you are building schools, bridges and highways. Funding the arts too.

I’m good friends with one of the managers of the McFaddens at CBP. I can drink for free there if I want, and still try to avoid it.

O yea, and for fun I went back to ESPN’s site and looked at the series predictions…I want to know how anyone thought the DOdgers could win this series in 5…wanna bet if it’s Yankees-Phils everyone will have Yankees in 4 or 5?

Sam, maybe I am one of the few, but Ive never really “praised” Reid. Obviously he has had quite a bit of success getting to the NFC Championship game, and super bowl once, but I think he play calling in HUGE games is VERY questionable.

the tackling was horrible, trotter showed why he hasn’t been in the league for 2 years….calling a timeout before the 2 minute warning with the raiders having a 3rd down giving them the option to pass?????????
one more thing because the phillies are really my prozac right now, how’s that money the team saved on brian dawkins working out for them?

Something is wrong when my heart skips a beat the second Utley has to throw the ball now…it’s so wrong I just can’t help it.

I am with Brian. I have always disliked Reid. He does the same stuff he did 10 years ago. He has failed to adjust while the rest of the league has. The Eagles were the only dominate team in a terrible NFC. I don’t like McNabb much either and I honestly think he could have won a ring on another team, a team better built for his talents. He is not a west coast style QB despite what Andy Reid will say.

@Morris Buttermaker, I 100% agree with you on that comment on local brews! The Philly area is very lucky with some of their local and regional Brews (Yuengling is one of my favorites that I can NOT get here in Colorado 🙂 ) I try to drink only locals here in Colorado here as well. We have some decent ones, but I think the Philly area is better than here slightly.

I am glad we are winning this game but it would make me feel better if we could score some more runs. I hate when we do all of our scoring in one inning….as I type this Feliz is sliding into third…so ok, forget that I just said this.

Yea, none of us have anything to say when the game is going this great. We can get on Raul’s case for his crap game so far. But then he just got a walk…

I like Yuengling a lot, and miss it so much when I travel around the country. It’s so great to be able to get a delicious beer for $2.50. And Victory, Sly Fox and Stoudt’s are making some really great beers. I highly recommend the Stoudt’s Gold. I just recently discovered it. It is splendid.

Thanks Stuart! Scheduled C-Section, so it is tomorrow. Trust me I have thought about asking to wait, but my wife would shoot me. LOL. So far, October hasnt been bad for my family! My B-Day is 21 Oct (Phillies won the WS in 1980 on 21 Oct. They won the WS last year. They are looking pretty good this year, so hopefully the rest of October works out well, and into early November!

as much of an eagles fan i am, and i am big time, it’s great that the phillies have shoved it right up joe banner’s ass deep and hard by winning a championship and being so successful these last few years….he’s an arrogant jerk and his jealousy of the phillies burns in his stomach so hard he probably has an ulcer

I agree with Brian of CO and Ed R about Reid and his playcalling
and yes, I would like them to save some runs for Blanton. ALthough, Blanton has been good this season, and when called upon in the post-season still good. I have faith he can hold the Dodgers down. The trick IMO is not allowing this series to go to game 7 and use Lee again. They need to save him for the next round (if they get there)

I hate the Eagles but the Phillies might score more. LOL. Vick is just a waste. Why disrupt the offense to bring him in. My G men were destroyed today. Hopefully they will become humble. Watching Brady was like playing Madden 10 on PS3

ok we have to classify amaro with being being a genius….getting lee instead of halladay and saving a lot of our minor league guys…..sometimes being a genius involves a little luck too because could’ve he have really foreseen all this?

For me, its not about saving Lee’s arm to throw him on short rest but rather, he is at a career high in innings…we saw what that has done to Hamels. If we expect at minimum one more start from Lee this series, if we make it to the next round, you have one or two more starts, I am thinking more long term and with this game being what it is…why not? Then again, they have to play tomorrow so why use the pen if you don’t have too?

Playing devils advocate I guess. Thank heaven there is a needless day off in between games 4 and 5.

Thanks Morris, funny you say that, because my 2 year old daughter was helping us get used to not sleeping last night. LOL. @ray, I should upload pictures of my basement on here. LOL. People think just because my name had “of CO” in it, I am not a realy Phan. Hmm. Well my sons room is Red White and Blue with a big Phillies fathead in the middle. I have the ’08 World Champions onsie for him to come home in! My basement was kind of a hodge podge of Hunter Green for the Eagles, and Red white and Blue for the Phillies. How can any “patriot” (I mean patriot as a military member and not the New England Cheaters) not like the Phillies when they are Red, White and Blue!

ray is correct about Amaro. I will say I was VERY harsh on Amaro BEFORE the season. Letting Pat the Bat go, seemed a little distant, just didnt seem right to me, but I was COMPLETELY wrong! Amaro has done a hell of a job. I remember alot of people were baching him because Ibanez was a lefty, and a lefty heavy lineup and everything. Ironically enough, the lefty heavy line-up just might be what has helped us or will help us a the remainder of the post season continues. Too bad for Utley, that would be one freakin way to get everyone to forget the bad games.

I think Lee stays as long as he’s keeping his count down. Like Charlie says….we play for today. We don;t think about yesterday or get ahead of ourselves about tomorrow. So for today, his job is to pitch as long as he can in a healthy manner.

joedad if you’re wife’s name did rhyme with six you could have a reality show called joedad and (wife’s name) plus six…lol…i couldn’t think of a woman’s name that rhymed with six though …now you’re name makes a lot of sense

boliermaker i know exactly what you are talking about with the background noises..i would hear that on my parents tv where the background noise was very prevalent, even more so than the announcers sometimes
kyle kendrick is not a bad choice dave

I’m flashing on Steve Colbert’s description of the Mets logo. It’s a diamond, like the place a World Series might be played. And it has the number 2009, the section where the Mets would be watching that game.

You know the Phillies are an emotional passionate bunch as well (much like us the PHANS). Last year they were playing for Chollies mother and Victorinos grandmother. This year, lets do it for Harry Kalas boys! RIP! That looked like a NASTY slider.

I know we dont have much to complain about but I will say one thing. Does charlie really have any idea what hes doing sometimes? Why let Lee bat only to take him out? Give one of our bench players an AB to keep their timing going. Not sure why he did that. And if youre going to put someone in. I would put Lidge in. Any work for Lidge that wil end successfully is good work. Dont understand Manuels reasoning. I never do.

This team is amazing. I was so mad at the Phillies loss on Friday that I could not even think about it ever since without getting really mad. It didn’t even phase this team though. An extremely demoralizing loss followed by the most dominating performance of the post season, snuffing out any momentum that LA might have had.